A/N: Okay, I can see that not many of you guys like Alex much. I can see why. And just to clarify, he's not a main character. The protagonist in this story is Skylar, and it follows her adventures. I only created Alex to give her a friend her own age. Originally, I planned to make her friends with Bart and Jaime, but since this story takes place three years after the events of Invasion, they would probably be around seventeen or eighteen. I figured that they might be a bit matured for Skylar and the story's plot had me make her at least fourteen years. So, that sparked the creation of Alex.
But remember guys, based on the reviews, I can always kill him off in the finale.
Enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter 7
She makes it to the Cave at the exact moment that everyone starts bringing their stuff together. She walks in to see different Team members walking up, holding different blankets and supplies under their arms. Honestly, she feels a bit nervous since she hasn't seen the entire Team in one place. And it's pretty intimidating.
Everyone starts heading outside while she just stays there for a few moments, recollecting her thoughts.
"Aren't you coming?"
She jumps and whips around to see Dick standing there, in a pair of trunks and a button down shirt. He has his hands folded, and she thinks that he has a different aura around him, like he's finally calm and knows that nothing will disturb him today. She quickly looks down to avoid staring at his face.
"I'm not familiar with the beach." She starts when he surprises her by laughing.
She thinks she likes hearing him laugh.
"You don't need to be familiar at all." He grins. "All you need to do today is relax."
"Really?" she softly grins.
His smile twitches at the corner of his mouth a bit more. "It's been a Team tradition since my friends and I formed this Team almost eight years ago."
He smiles down at her and puts a hand on her back. "Shall we?"
The beach is a lot more fun than she thought it would be.
After a play in the water, they had a volleyball match, followed by a small meal from Conner's portable grill. Now, they were all just lounging around, sunbathing on the sand, or making sandcastles or playing even more games with each other.
She's sitting on the blanket Dick lent her since she didn't bring one of her own. She likes this feeling, relaxing like this with the sun beating down on her back. Even on Themyscira, she never got the opportunity to kick back and have a beach day since they didn't believe in it there. All the time she was either training or brushing up on her history. She honestly never knew what she had been missing all this time.
"Enjoying?" Alex comes to sit down beside her.
She turns to look at him. His hair's a bit damp from almost being drowned by Tim an hour ago. He has a t-shirt with his swimming trunks and his sunglasses are reflecting the light of the sun. She, herself is taking his advice to be cool and has on a light yellow tank top with denim cutoffs. She nods at him.
"A lot actually."
"Didn't see you in the water earlier." He says. "And I'm guessing you didn't bring a swimsuit."
She shakes her head. "Honestly, I'm afraid of water."
He looks almost seconds from bursting into laughter when she glares at him to shut him up. He turns away and spreads his legs out, leaning back on his arms. She turns back to watching the ocean and just enjoying the silence. It's actually kinda nice.
After a few minutes, he sits up. "Skylar, I need to show you something." He scrambles up to his feet. She suddenly feels a gaze that she's grown accustomed to over the week. She turns her head to look back and sees Dick, sitting on a blanket with Barbara, who's animatedly chatting with him, but he's not interested in the conversation. His gaze is focused on Skylar and Alex. He doesn't need to remove his sunglasses for her to know that.
Alex also suddenly seems to notice that Dick is staring at them and almost cringes. She doesn't blame him. The man can make a look feel deadly even from behind a pair of glasses. She stands up and gives him a small smile. After noting his nod in reply, she turns back to Alex who begins to lead the way.
What on earth does she have to do with him?
He wonders whether that's a good thing or a bad thing that the young black-haired girl is the only thing on his mind right now. Even though Barbara came and started talking to him a long time ago, he had his eyes on Skylar the whole time. He has to say that he tightened his fists when Alex came to sit next to her. Sure, he knows they're good friends and he's been helping her settle in, but he just can't stand seeing him with her like that. And he's pretty sure he's imagining the distance between him and her.
It was probably the last straw when Alex got up and offered to show her something. Right then, he has no idea why, but he almost wills her to say no. He wishes that she would disagree and he would leave her in peace. And he won't pretend that a part of him isn't hoping that she might come over here and ask for his help, or just talk to him. He's been keeping an eye on her all day, but he's pretty sure that wherever Alex is taking her is out of his sight. He just can't stand that, and he hopes that Alex will just walk away.
But then the two kids notice him staring at them. He has no idea how to react to that. He was just caught glaring at his best friend's youngest cousin because he was being friendly with the newest recruit. Or, at least he hopes he was just being friendly.
Skylar gives him a small smile that almost gives him the confidence he needs. It's like she's asking for his permission, although he has no idea why she would ever need on a day like this. Nevertheless, he still gives her a small nod in approval. A few moments later, she's gone and he can't stop thinking about what they might be doing.
If he touches her…
"Dick, are you listening?" Barbara asks.
"What?" He turns back to her, trying to hide the expression on his face.
"What're you staring at?" She asks, looking over him. "Hey, isn't that the blanket you lent Skylar?"
He sheepishly nods. "Well, where is she?" she asks.
"Alex wanted to show her something." He says.
"Is that why you're so wound up?" she laughs. He shakes his head. "No. Why would I be?"
"Please, Dick. You're practically radiating over protectiveness." She says. "If you're so worried about her, why don't you follow her?"
He shakes his head. "No. I already told you that I will not spy on her. I'll let her tell me anything, when she wants to."
"Where are you taking me?" she asks him, pulling herself onto a rock.
"We're here." He replies, holding out his hand for her.
She stands up and almost gasps because it is beautiful. He's taken her closer to the sea, but in a place that will not at all get her wet. The sea is almost right in front of her, but still far away. All she can think right now is wow! She turns her head to look at him. Somehow, she thinks this place has a special meaning to him. Or she could say that since there's a light in his eyes that she hasn't seen yet.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he asks.
She nods. "It's amazing. How did you know about this place?"
"Found it when I first joined." He says. "I come here when I've had a bad day." He looks out to the sea. "It helps me think."
"I can see why." She replies, feeling her heart flutter as she stares out at the beautiful sunset.
"I heard that Nightwing used to come here a lot too in his younger days." He says. "I think he was the one who found the place."
She nods, her mind still full of beautiful images. "Why are you showing me this?" she asks.
"Well, because…" he stammers. "I don't know why. My gut just says that you might need to come here soon."
"Well, your gut is right." She says. "I will be coming here a lot more often."
She's met by Diana the second she closes the door. The older woman is standing there sternly, her arms crossed and the expression on her face said that she definitely wasn't amused.
"So, how did the day go?" she asks.
The teenager sheepishly shrugs. "Okay, I guess." She slowly says.
"Did anything happen?" Diana asks.
Skylar shakes her head. "Nope, nothing much." She quickly says. At another stern look, she manages to blurt out, "Nightwing helped me settle in."
Diana raises her eyebrow. "What does he want with you?" she asks.
"Are you really asking me that?" Skylar asks. "I've never seen a beach before today!"
Diana ignores her and starts muttering to herself. She turns away and walks almost halfway across the room. Sighing, Skylar walks to the couch and puts her bag down. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices Diana stop pacing and rub her eyes for s second. The woman turns back to her and the protective expression in her eyes changes to a much softer one.
"Skylar, why don't you check in your bedroom?" she smiles.
Surprised by the sudden mood change, Skylar gets up and walks to her room. When she opens the door however, she gets an even bigger surprise as a small ball of golden fur suddenly attacks her. She steps back to see a tiny golden retriever puppy on her, wagging its tail and pawing at her. She lets out a laugh.
"Diana? I didn't know we had company?" she laughs as the puppy licks her face.
Diana stands by the door, a small smile on her face. "I figured it was time you got someone to keep you company." She smiles. "I found her at the local shelter. Her previous owners abandoned her, so I thought she'd like a new owner."
"Me?" Skylar asks, astounded. She picks up the tiny puppy and turns around. "I don't know if I'm ready…"
"You don't have to be." Diana smiles. "I know you are."
"Well, I love her." Skylar leans her head forward to touch her nose with the tiny puppy, whose tail picks up wind at once.
"What're you going to call her?" Diana asks.
"I think I'll call her…Shiloh." Skylar says after thinking for a moment. The tiny puppy gives a tiny bark at hearing the name.
Diana laughs. "I think I'll leave you two to get acquainted." Saying so, she walks out of the room, throwing Skylar a soft smile before shutting the door behind her.
Skylar suddenly starts to feel Shiloh start to fidget in her arms. She walks to the bed and puts the pup down. At once, the little pup leaps off the bed and runs to the window, jumping up as much as her height would permit and releasing these small barks. Skylar gets up to see what the dog has been barking about when she notices a note stuck to the window. Her eyes widen as she cautiously walks to the window and opens it, removing the note and reading it.
Watch your back
Three words. There are only three words on that small piece of paper. But the message behind them is clear: She's not safe, not anymore.
Shiloh looks up at her with wide eyes. Taking a deep breath, she looks down at the dog.
"Shiloh, I don't know if you can really understand me, but I guess you'll help me in some way." She closes her eyes for a second.
"I think I'm being watched."
A/N: Yep, I introduced a dog. I don't know why, really. Maybe it's because I've always wanted a dog and since I don't have one, I have to settle with a fictional one. Shiloh's actually modeled off my own dream dog (who I dream of being a proud owner of someday.) Hope you like her, guys.
And what're your views about this story. Should I keep going? How are the characters? I'd love to hear all about it.
Oh, and expect a Diana/Dick confrontation in the next chapter.
Please review to tell me what you want to see.
